House and Senate Democrats intend to bypass traditional procedures when they negotiate a final compromise on health care legislation, officials said Monday, a move that will exclude Republican lawmakers and reduce their ability to delay or force politically troubling votes in both houses.
The unofficial timetable calls for final passage of the measure to remake the nation's health care system by the time President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address, probably in early February.
Democratic aides said the final compromise talks would essentially be a three-way negotiation involving top Democrats in the House and Senate and the White House, a structure that gives unusual latitude to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.
These officials said there are no plans to appoint a formal House-Senate conference committee, the method Congress most often uses to reconcile differing bills. Under that customary format, a committee chairman is appointed to preside, and other senior lawmakers from both parties and houses participate in typically perfunctory public meetings while the meaningful negotiations occur behind closed doors.
In this case, the plan is to skip the formal meetings, reach an agreement, then have the two houses vote as quickly as possible. A 60-vote Senate majority would be required in advance of final passage.
You can read the entire story at the site above.. However that's the gist of it.. Basically, Harry and Nancy and some of the White House staff are getting together to write the final bill.. without the GOPers.. Finally they are putting a stop to the obstructionism.. Hip Hip Hooray!
6 comments:
It sounds like a good idea, sounds like dems are friggin at the end of their ropes and want this completed soon! Good for them to show some backbone but it will not be taken as that. You wait til the media starts talking about this story! "Dems and their secret backroom deals!"
I posted a video of Rachel talking about it for further understanding.
Great job Sue.. I will be over to look at it.
It's about darn time. Let's just keep our fingers crossed - and thank God for Rachel.
This is great news. The republicans/conservatives in Congress have shown they have no real interest in reforming our health care system, only in employing Senator Gregg's tactics to obstruct the process. They should be cut out of the process considering their behavior over the last year. Sue is right. Now let's wait to hear the calls for fundraising and tea parties to be organized. According to TPM, the republicans are far behind the deomocrats in fundraising efforts so any opportunity to fleece their sheeple is a positive for them.
Agree. The R's haven't done a single thing to merit being part of the process. I doubt that they'd participate, anyway.
That was my thinking too..Since they have done nothing but obstruct.. just leave them out of everything.. It works for me.. Glad you all agree.. now let's get it done.
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